The Christmas Spirit of Budapest

What better way is there to start the seasonal rush than with a holiday?, Christmas is quickly approaching and the thought of all the preparations may be stressful, so why not treat yourself to a pre-Christmas getaway in charming Budapest.

Budapest is lovely all year around, but there is something special about going there around the festive. The city is guaranteed to put you in the Christmas spirit and give you a good head start on your gift shopping at the same time. From mid-November to the end of December, Budapest is full of Christmas markets, situated in St. Stephen’s Square, Vajdahunyad Castle, and Bakáts Square.

ADVENT AT THE VÁRKERT BAZAAR

Photo: Krisztián Bódis Photography

Joining in the wintertime fun for the first time, Várkert Bazaar is a new player on the Christmas-market scene. Set on the side of Buda’s magnificent Castle Hill, the elegant edifice provides the perfect backdrop for the holiday fair – visitors can feast their eyes on the panorama of bustling Pest while sipping on a steaming mug of spicy mulled wine.

When: November 29 – December 24

address: 1013 Budapest, Ybl Miklós tér

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GOZSDU CHRISTMAS MARKET

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As an ever-buzzing hub of life and leisure in downtown Pest, Gozsdu Udvar transforms into a festive holiday-season headquarters for almost an entire month. Located between Király Street and Dob Street, the market fills these interconnected courtyards with a five-meter-tall Christmas tree, an illuminated carousel, and a narrow-gauge railway.

When: November 28 – December 23

Address: 1075 Budapest, Király utca 13.

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MAGYAR ÍZEK VÁSÁRA (MARKET OF HUNGARIAN FLAVORS)

Photo: Krisztian Bodis Photography

With the Sziget Eye spinning like a gigantic snowflake in the background, the biggest gastro-themed Christmas fair in town will be full of local and international vendors selling their artisanal goodies, which can look just as enticing on the dining room table as under the Christmas tree.

When: November 27 – December 23

Address: 1051 Budapest, Erzsébet Square

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FOUR SEASONS CHRISTMAS MARKET

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Amid its fairy-tale Art Nouveau interior, the Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace once again hosts a luxury Christmas market, The market showcases a wide range of Hungarian and international products, with Magyar brands including the Herend Porcelain Manufactory, Varga Crystal, and the renowned glove-making company Pécsi Kesztyű.

When: November 27 – December 27

1051 Budapest, Széchenyi István tér 5-6.

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ADVENT FEAST AT THE BASILICA

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As kids slip and glide on a miniature ice rink centered by a tall Christmas tree, the huge façade of St. Stephen’s Basilica is illuminated with 3D holiday imagery for this charming Advent market filling Szent István Square. Long strings of Christmas lights share the air with amplified tunes as visitors peruse the little trinkets filling craft-fair stalls, creating an especially inviting atmosphere before Budapest’s biggest church.

When: November 27 – January 2

Address: 1051 Budapest, Szent István tér 1.

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FASHION STREET ADVENT

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Deák Ferenc Street – aka Fashion Street – welcomes shoppers with Christmas lights and quaint wooden booths all along this upscale city-center pedestrian lane. During a multiple-hour shopping spree to purchase everything you need for the holidays, a cup of hot punch or a perfectly flaky strudel can be a real lifesaver.